Inman Valley Family Home

Posted on: Jul 13, 2017 | by: Energy Architecture

Inman Valley Family Home

Featured in A recent addition of Fleurieu Living Magazine, Energy Architecture’s Inman Valley Home is an eco friendly and contemporary design, built to personally realise the desired architectural outcome.

Ben set about finding an architect. John Maitland of Energy Architecture was discovered on the internet as ‘A guy whose designs I liked and whose work stuck out.’ says Ben.

‘I was looking for something a bit different and his work did not look like anything else I had seen. After meeting him I also liked the way he thought and that he was willing to give anything a go in terms of design.’

At a meeting in the shed John sketched a concept on a napkin and it was his use of angles and roof pitch that felt like something really unique. ‘He structured everything around a sustainable design and a radical design was created around those building blocks. I knew I could work with him.’ says Ben.

John wanted the house to be oriented true north but a compromise was made to have the house carved into the side of the hill to capture the views making it slightly off of true north.

Despite this the house works beautifully and it a testimony to the design. The orientation of the breezeways for summer cooling and good thermal mass for winter warming all contribute to the green credentials of the design. Ben attributes this, in part, to having invested in the right glass with excellent thermal properties. The original design is very different from that original concept but as an owner builder Ben was at liberty to make variations to the plan as he saw fit. The build took almost three years and as they had another home close by it gave them the luxury of time to get it right. With no building experience under his belt Ben learned as he went along bringing attention to detail and a serious work ethic to the table. Tradespeople would come and go but the ones who stayed shared these values.

Arranged around a masonry spine, generous and airy spaces face the northern aspect of this sprawling Inman Valley property. Tucked behind on the southern face are services, guest room, utilities and study spaces. Further articulation through secondary spine defines family living and children’s spaces.